Midterm Grades: XXL Class Of 2009
GENERAL By David D. on June 9, 2009 at 2:17 pmThe XXL Class of 2009 is a little bit past the six month mark of its Freshman year. These 10 MCs may go down as one of the most important crop of newcomers to hit the scene in a while as the industry is watching closely to see which of the 10 different approaches to starting a career can set the blueprint for success in the struggling music business.
Professor D. is here to dole out midterm grades for each MC to see how he has taken advantage of the magazine cover and positioned himself as the big man on campus.
Top of the Class
There’s a lot of good to go around here. It seemed as though T.I. was handing the Grand Hustle baton over to Mr. Ray at every stop on his way to the slammer. Eminem has also been singing Ray’s praises every chance he gets. Add in a feature segment on The Carson Daly show as well as “I’ll Be In The Sky” getting play during MTV shows and we have someone fit to be a big deal for the rest of the year. If only we could get a release date on that album…
Grade: A-
“Day N’ Nite” is a bona-fide hit, people. CuDi has seemingly leapfrogged the whole G.O.O.D. roster to become Yeezy’s favorite new artist. He has an endless array of hit capabilities and The Kid is also slowly making his name as a top go-to feature man with a major guest-spot on 808’s and Heartbreaks under his belt. His album Man on the Moon: The End of Day is supposedly coming out in a few months. A retirement threat and shaky rap ability are the only marks against Cudi.
Grade: B
Wale has a freaking machine behind him. Lady Gaga on a track? Who else on this list is pulling that kind of artist? Wale is making the right moves leading up to his album to plant himself as a big-time player. He’s got the Roc Nation deal and a tour with Jay-Z coming up this summer. The sky is the limit for Wale as his Attention Deficit tour has helped him gain him a ton of buzz and Back To The Feature mixtape with 9th Wonder ranks as most anticipated at press time.
Grade: A-
Satisfactory
Like it or not, but this student is the most recognized name in the whole class. “I Love College” is an undeniable hit that has propelled Asher to the mainstream. Asleep In The Bread Aisle is also a serviceable debut album. Despite all of this, Roth’s album was a record sales flop by most standards as it is still struggling to reach the gold status. The Eminem co-sign can only go so far as Relapse dropped, showing that there’s no real comparison between the two. Asher needs another single from his album to keep Bread Aisle… on people’s minds long enough to boost sales. If not, Roth needs to focus on a follow-up to keep his career moving.
Grade: B+
Despite the questionable odors that come from this student, it’s hard to find much to complain about Curren$y. He took matters into his own hands to drop an indie album that is rather dope. Unfortunately, This Ain’t No Mixtape dropped quietly through Amalgam Digital. One can only hope that this leads to a promotion to a bigger label release in the near future. In the meantime, we’ll keep listening to his album and his mixtapes.
Grade: B-
Mickey is a beast, but you already knew that. His concerts have been making waves on the various blogs and he was able to steal a few shows at SXSW with his energy. A new single with CuDi is bound to heat up the airwaves soon. He’s a New York cat that seems like he can actually make it, which the state is desperate to rally around. Oh yea, a Roc Nation contract didn’t hurt either. Mickey has gained a measure of visibility thanks to some big name commercials with Honda and Supra as well. Aside from the Roc Nation deal, though, Factz is essentially in the same position he was before the XXL cover. We all still know he’s a great rapper, but we haven’t been treated to many new tracks to show Factz’s song-making ability.
Grade: B-
Needs Improvement
Ace has an album out which is more than can be said about just about anyone else on the list. And with DJ Khaled at the helm, Hood is only a T-Pain-assisted single away from being a household name — which arrived in the form of “Overtime.” He may be in need of a little tutoring for fine-tuning his craft but there’s still hope for the Dade County young’n to pick up the slack and make a better first impression the second go around.
Grade: C-
We’ve already raked Cory through the coals for his choices in the last few months, but a Gangsta Grillz tape is a good look for this Freshman with so much untapped potential. However, he’s been riding the wave of one “Milli” verse for damn year a near. Pop Quiz: Name one song from the “Tuesdays with Cory” series. Anyone? Bueller?
Still, with this much skill, things can’t be too bad for long.
Grade: C
Since his entry into the Freshman class, Blu has been plagued with too many absences. We’ve even had to send out a few truancy officers to find him. A few guys named Tanya Morgan went out and brought him back to class for a dope verse, but it’s been hard to find this MC. Maybe he’s off working on his project through his record deal with Warner.
Grade: C
Gotty’s™ Note: This Was written previous to Sonic’s Dilla Debacle.
Charles has earned major extra credit points for all of the music he’s put out in the last few months. However, Chuck has exhibited problems playing well with others. He’s quickly earning a spot as the most hated rapper in all the blogosphere with a mixtape fiasco and “The Punch Heard Round the Internet.” you know what they say: there’s no such thing as bad publicity. But Charles is a big fish in a small blog pond as most casual listeners don’t know who he is, which spells bad news for the album on the horizon.
Grade: C+
Professor’s Note
The New Kid On The Block
The class has been slightly shaken by a new foreign exchange student that arrived a few months ago that has surpassed the rest of his peers. He’s kind of quiet but you may have heard of him.
Posted in GENERAL, REVIEWS, SMOKE BREAK, WE GOT NOW — Tags: Ace Hood, Asher Roth, B.O.B., Blu, Charles Hamilton, Cory Gunz, Curren$y, Drake, K.i.D. CuDi, Mickey Factz, Wale, XXL Freshman 10 of '09, XXL Magazine
Tweet This
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS Feed
90 Comments
Only Wale and Blu were on my Wildcard Six roster anyway. E$$O too.
Three vacancies still left to fill, but I’ve narrowed down my selection.
After the Dilla debacle his grade has been changed to a F+
He been kicked out of school far as I’m concerned
good article
Cudi will be a star. Wale, B.o.B, and CH will be slightly below that. Asher has to hope he isn’t done… the rest will probably slowly go away.
IS THAT DRAKE?
- Captain Obvious
Excellent write up…
I feel like KiD CuDi needs to be dropped down to a C+ because of the simple fact that he has yet to create a song anywhere near the calibur of “Day N’ Nite”. Just my opinion though.
The Professor’s Note was a great addition by the way.
i gotta see bobby ray and blu in concert immediately
Fuck CH.
I love Curren$y’s new jawn.. re-re-re-repeat.
I feel like KiD CuDi needs to be dropped down to a C+ because of the simple fact that he has yet to create a song anywhere near the calibur of “Day N’ Nite”. Just my opinion though.
——————————-
I’d say he has a whole album worth of material that is in the same or at least close to the caliber of day n nite. But I really like the dude’s music.
Wiz Khalifa should be in the Freshman class or something. He has more of a chance to become a certifiable rapper than about 4 of the guys on this list.
Where’s the freshman goon who will smack around CH for awhile?
Wiz is regressing, send him back to high school.
Anybody besides Asher put out an album yet? Othwerwise, TC’s give’em all F’s lol.
Cudi, Wale, Ace & Charles all have release dates, right?
wale could be the only dude who has staying power on this list. and he’s so average
Degrassi High transcripts are not valid, son.
If Drizzy were in this class, what would his grade be? An A, no minus?
If only we could get a release date on that album…
============================================================
cosign that…
B.O.B’s album, Curren$y (hope he gets with a better “song” maker, his chorus’ are a big negative on most of his tracks) and Wale, I’ll make a trip to Best Buy for those.
That New Kid On The Block will prolly get a download we’ll see how much “new” his album has.
Is the Professors Note Jay Electronica?
Wale, Bobby Ray, and Curren$y will be fine.
Even if their albums don’t get that mainstream push, the tours these cats will do will more than make up for it.
I think Asher needs to fire back with something, and fast. Otherwise, he’ll be repeating his freshman year.
I’m STILL not hopping on the Drake train. I just… I’m STILL lost on the appeal of dude. I need something more from him, I guess. (pause)
Mickey facts is cooking up something. He’s also got that OTHER independent machine behind him now, so I believe he’ll do fine as well.
I’m not even gonna mention Vanilla Ice (CH). People like him just need to quit rap and find a comfortable job somewhere.
As always, decent write up, David D.
Curr’s hooks sucked & I don’t give a rat’s ass who disagrees w/me lol. I love the dude (NH) but eff that.
Wale is the most consistent & only gettin better.
BTW, since Lupe got held by a couple of semesters, I can see him and the ‘new kid’ exchanging study notes at the back of the class. No wait dude, we’ll both get into trouble for duplicating each others work, tee hee hee! Hush, hush, wink, wink, nudge, nudge. ;)
good post, i agree with all those grades except one…blu’s dropped two tapes i believe in 2009. Her favorite color and soul amazing pt 2 were both pretty nice as well. he has to be well above ch, gunz and hood at a minimum
LOL @ Blu with a C and Hamilton with a C+. Sometimes I really say I gotta stop coming on this site and then get dragged back. The foolishness in this post is absurd.
And the New Kids gets hated some more…
@ Logikal Accord
Its about being consistent…You can’t be talked about when you and 3 stacks are on the same schedule of delivering material…
And Hamilton…He is like that kid in the class that doesn’t do anything but piss people off. His delivery is cool, but what else has prove besides that he is a little immature asshole…All the talent in the world, doesn’t mean a damn thing if he can’t pitch it to the people and the industry.
@Sad Face, why are you hating on the new kid? Isn’t that some what hypocritical when taking into account your original statement?
@forest ill
HerFavorite was more a “mixtape” of interludes and instrumentals, not really a lot of Blu spittin. And I think that Soul Amazing jawnt was just a compilation of some of his music. I can agree with his grade due to the amount of absences. But, when he shows up, HE SHOWS UP.
CH = Fail
Purely from getting done by that girl…. BTW she had a NICE right hook!
Since new comers,
from a new generation
Blu, B.o.B, Wale, Drake & J.Cole
are the next newest five cats on the top…
Cory gunz needs a mentor for a real exec prod. album
let we see cudi album, CH, ace hood, etc but to me that’s that…
Name one song from the “Tuesdays with Cory” series
——-
that “One” freestyle was dope!
90% of these new school cats will either drop out or get themselves expelled before graduation day.
this is the most fucked up scoring ive ever seen…they are all nice dont get me wrong but cudi is most def. first and This Aint No Mixtape Is the hardest album outtof all of them spitta is 2. BOB made one hot joint but wheres he now????
Real talk: If Hater Chris, Logikal Accord or Dart Adams states their opinion, 9 times outta 10, you can roll with the direct opposite to get the truth. Just saying.
^*shots fired*
A’yo, I know the aforementioned cats are tipped for great things, some prosper, some do not and wot not.
But I’m laying down my fourth wild card, I think the following guy will make a major splash on the scene, not this year, but the year after next….
Justice Kareem
@big rome, i can appreciate that but imo quantity is less important than quality…
sad face Says:
@ Logikal Accord
Its about being consistent…You can’t be talked about when you and 3 stacks are on the same schedule of delivering material…
_______________________________________________________
Blu and Exile - Below The Heavens
Blu - Johnson and Johnson
Blu - Her Favourite Colour
>
Anything Hamilton, Gunz, Factz, Roth and Hood have ever dropped.
Point, blank, period.
sorry but drake should go conquer canada before takin over here…
I hav a feelin wayne b writin for this fool n hes singin like wayne….
I seen better talent than him n im not fazed… wat goes up must c\ome down… n he went up pretty fast
Sad Face and TC,
I ask of you to find an artist on this list that has released a better album than “Below The Heavens.” Through searching Hamilton’s catalog of 50+ releases, you’re guaranteed to come up empty-handed. Cudi? He may be popular but is his mixtape really a better Hip-Hop album than “Below The Heavens”? I beg to differ. Is it better than “Johnson and Johnson” even? That’s highly debatable. Asher? Decent mixtape, horrible album. Gunz…..can rap his ass off. Can he put out a decent piece of work? I highly doubt it, but I’ll have to wait and see. Ace Hood? Next. Currensy, Mickey Factz? Come on now. Currensy’s “TANM” was aiiiiiight. Sure sounded like a mixtape though.
Again, if this is about popularity, staying in the focus of the public, by all means, * > Blu. If it’s about dope music and being an all-around talented artist, convince me otherwise because as of now it’s all hype.
I left Drake out because his body of work IMO is parallel with Blu, dude’s got a lot of ill shit.
Somebody’s putting in vitro money into this dog training shit. Can a brotha hold a dollar.
I really have a feeling that KiD CuDi is better behind the boards, and writing R&B/Pop hooks…
Cory Gunz…. great emcee, but I’m sure his song writing will be his biggest challenge. I’ll take a freestyle tape of his any day though.
Mickey Factz is gonna be aiight…. however, he IS a part of Jigga’s camp now. We all know how that went down for artists before. :/
Asher Roth will be ok… I see him getting better. His album was “okay”. Not what many of us wanted it to be after The Greenhouse Effect. :/
Wale & Drake IMO are destined to be in this business for a while. Especially with the co-signing of their skills by major influences in the game already.
B.o.B. …. hell, somebody’s gotta put out records for Grand Hustle while T.I. lawwwwwccccckkkkeeedddd up! He’s perfect for the job. As long as he sells more than Kuntry, he’s good. lol
Curren$y… I like his album, but he needs to get with a writing team to at least lace him with some hooks. :/
Ace Hood… lyrical skill is there, he still owes me a hot album though. Pay me back nucka! *Coaster*
Blu… needs Exile back. Just form the new version of Gang Starr… Eric B. & Rakim… you know the deal… 2 turntables and a mic. Make it happen because this solo career is starting to look sketchy, even to a fan like myself. :/
Charles Hamilton… haven’t listened to his stuff in a while… “Brooklyn Girls” was nice IMO, but he doesn’t have the charisma of Lil’ Wayne or even Curren$y for him to be releasing mixtapes like that.
*kicks soapbox across the room, and runs before TC pulls the glock back out*
lol
drake gonna get shot
degrassi all over again
Blu… needs Exile back. Just form the new version of Gang Starr… Eric B. & Rakim… you know the deal… 2 turntables and a mic. Make it happen because this solo career is starting to look sketchy, even to a fan like myself. :/
_______________________________________
Real talk there Douglas, together they like Voltron.
last place drizzy is tha nigga in the lead now
Wale and Blu are my favorite rappers on the list. I wonder who XXL will pick if they make a 2010 freshman class.
Hell are there even 10 “new” rappers out making waves like that?
@Sam C, nope. Basically what publications such as XXL are trying to do is create an illusion of ushering a brand new halcyon era for hip hop.
Not to piss on anybodies parade, but gee-wiz it ain’t my fault you were born a decade too late, get a late pass, pay your dues and earn your way to ascend up the totem pole.
I hope the one(s) with the most raw skills and talent prospers, if not in terms of record sales, then in terms of earning the listeners and critics respect.
In this day and age the ones who achieve mainstream success are mostly likely to be the ones who are pally pally with the ‘right’ industry people, it pays to know people in this game right here, a few smiles through the teeth, and a favour for a favour, quid-pro-quo and often your career spearheads into orbit.
This isn’t because you got the most raw and innovative skills, rather because who you rub shoulders with.
All I know is that there might be 3 out of this group worth buy a retail project when said and done…
Drake
Wale
B.O.B
All the rest will probably fizzle…
I hope I’m wrong…I really do…I want Blu to go major…But for him to do that means that he can’t sit on his craft…And maybe he does need to get back with Exile…But you can’t throw out a few hot ones every half, as a newbie, and think you are going to stay relevant…We know that the Blu “Stan” are going to be there…But for the regular Joe who just wants to hear good music, from a good artist on the regular…Instead of having to put “Below the Heavens” or “Her Favorite Colo(u)r” on, like we put on a “Aqeumini” or any random cameo or remix to hear 3 Stacks…Because that can get played out real fast…Real fast…
Blu has been working hard if you’ve been checking for him. Peep the wiki:
Discography
Albums
* Below the Heavens (with Exile) (2007) Sound in Color
* The Piece Talks (as C.R.A.C. Knuckles, with Ta’Raach) (2008) Tres
* Johnson&Jonson (as Johnson&Jonson, with Mainframe) (2008)
Mixtapes
* The C.O.R.E. Mixtape (2006)
* So(ul) Amazing by DJ Heat (unofficial) (2008)
* So(ul) Amazing 2 by DJ Heat (unofficial) (2009)
* HerFavoriteColo(u)r. (Official) (2009)
Singles
* Get Lifted EP (2006)
* The Narrow Path with Exile (2007)
* “BeSene” EP (2008)(Blu & Sene as Patch Adams)
* “Godlee Barnes” EP (Early 2009)
Guest Appearances
* “For Whom the Bell Tolls” from Evidence’s The Layover EP (also featuring Phonte & Will.i.am)
* “Jazz (Tribute Remix)” from J Period’s Q-Tip Mix Tape: The [Abstract] Best
* “Vibrate” from Dela’s Changes in Atmosphere
* “Mars (Remix)” from Freddie Joachim’s In With Time
* “Mars” from Dela’s Atmosphere Airlines Vol. 2
* “Wonder Why” from Blame One’s Days Chasing Days
* “Old Souls” from The Grouch & Eligh’s Say G&E!
* “The Times” from Keelay & Zaire’s Ridin High (also featuring Fortilive & Nino Moschella)
* “Get it Now” from Move.meant’s The Scope of Things (also featuring Trek Life)
(And this is missing tracks from Kidkanevil and Precise. Plus that Flying Lotus remix he has on his myspace right now - which is bonkers.)
@ Baby Paw
Hate to piss on your parade, but the industry been making illusion for a loooooooooong time…Probably some of your favorite artist have started out as illusion. Started out as the Drake’s, Wale’s, and B.O.B’s of their (our) time…But they were capable of lasting…
So they have to start somewhere…
someone needs to say this…
yall need to quit suckin kid cudi off as much as yall bloggers do.
all it does is propell his premature ego and he will top out before he even sees a release date.
fuck this dude and his bland ass music i aint feelin him.
pause?
anybody who consider Wale average CLEARLY the punchlines go over there heads. I didnt care for Day N Nite, Currensy was always just “ok” to me, CH is too cocky for no apparent reason…his lyrics are even complex.
*aren’t lol
In this day and age the ones who achieve mainstream success are mostly likely to be the ones who are pally pally with the ‘right’ industry people, it pays to know people in this game right here, a few smiles through the teeth, and a favour for a favour, quid-pro-quo and often your career spearheads into orbit.
=================
um…hasn’t this always been true in any profession?
truthfully Drake aint leadin this class like some of y’all think. Once he actually capitalizes on his buzz, then yea sure
Blu a C? Really? Only thing is wrong is that he doesn’t flood the internet with a bunch of wack shit like a slue of the other cats you got up here? GTFOH!!! !
I have yet to hear a Drake verse that has impressed me. And I have yet to hear a Drake verse that didn’t sound like Wayne. I must be completely clueless cuz I don’t get how anyone thinks he’s a good rapper. Laziest flow on earth…
I agree Blu is one of if not the most talented on the roster, but SINCE the XXL cover, he’s been pretty quiet. “Below The Heavens” came out much before the cover so it doesn’t factor really into this convo.
Great write up, the addition has surpassed the rest. Outside of Wale, and Drizzy, no one has lasting power. Let’s not get caught up in the Lady Gaga Feature. It was a weak M.I.A. impersonation (M.i.A. is weak herself)
Personally I would like some new Drake Material. SOFG 2? Please…
click my name, u late BUDDY =P
I agree with all these except Mickey and Charles. mickey should be A and Charles B - but then again not everyone had the opportunity to hear the album so early as I did so..that will change a lot of things
@Forest Ill
I agree. But, for the amount of bullshit mixtapes that a lot of artistz\s put out, I just wish Blu would go all out on an official mixtape.
@California”Music for the”Soul
His grade is based moreso on the lack of music. We know dude can spit. I wish he would come out with more stuff/
If This Aint No Mixtape had the right label behind it, it surely woulda created a bigger buzz for Curren$y. That album was hot. “Elavator Musik”, “Top of the Money” and “The Jets Son” are straight bangers that i can see getting radioplay. He needs to drop a video ASAP though. Spitta’s mad underrated, but i hope he gets his shine soon enough.
Fuck Drake, he sucks. Period. I don’t understand the sudden fascination with this dude. The ninja has been around since ‘06 and the only thing that has changed is the fact that he’s affiliated with Weezy. Go back and check is earlier material, it’s the same melodic garbage. Kid Cudi??? He can bring the heat occasionally, but I think that Kanye had better focus on Big Sean, GLC, Consequence and even Really Doe because Cudi’s rapgame needs serious work.
Charles Hamilton should get an F off of being a bitch nigga in general and all of his dealings have shown that
Blu… needs Exile back. Just form the new version of Gang Starr… Eric B. & Rakim… you know the deal… 2 turntables and a mic. Make it happen because this solo career is starting to look sketchy, even to a fan like myself. :/
_______________________________________
Real talk there Douglas, together they like Voltron.
==========
Agreed
I think Blu and Exile will be back - just saw a show on Friday with both them cats (was fuckin sick!) and they played a few new joints they been working on…was sounding good too. Blu is one fuckn charismatic dude up on stage…crowd went crazy when he took the blunt being passed around and smoked himself. Rest assured the only reason you ain’t hearing much material from him is cos he goes by “quality over quantity”…he’s cooking up some hot shit for sure. Just gotta be patient.
Him and B.O.B. are the most talented cats from the freshman class. I fucks with Kid Cudi and Wale too. But Cory has been knocking on the door for a while but just ain’t taking that next step…maybe it’ll never happen. Hopefully it does cos dude got talent. RE: Currency I used to like dude but haven’t heard his newer shit…needa hear that “This ain’t no mixtape” sounds like I’m missing out.
AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED DRAKE IS BIGGER THAN EM ALL AT THIS POINT…YOU CANT DENY IT…
I THINK HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT SO FAR AND SHOULD GET AN A OR A-
ANOTHA TIME,
MaLLY
P.S. HE STILL DESERVES AN “A” EVEN IF TC THINKS HE’S A DOUCHE BAG =D
OH AND 500K I AGREE CUDI IS TRIDDASH….
Blu manages to b the deepest and most thought provoking rapper alive while still seeming like some dude you can kick it with.
Kid Cudi has the best SONG MAKING ability. Drake comes second in that department but i hope Drake’s appeal to the ladies doesn’t have him on the sellout route.
B.O.B is pretty damn talented. The fact that he produces most of his stuff is crazy. He’s nasty and is capable of making great songs.
Asher Roth’s album was under shipped and he chose the wrong second single if he would have dropped a video for “Lion’s Roar” or “Sour Patch Kids” before the album dropped then it wouldn’t have flopped sales wise. The album is still pretty underrated.
Charles Hamilton is one talented asshole. Just wish he would be less of an asshole so we can judge him by his music.
Wale’s pretty cool but his work so far is a little overrated.. I need more… cant wait for the collab with 9th.
Mickey Facts is on and off… I can’t really get a sense of what he’s about. His new track with Cudi is crazy but thats cus of the production and Cudi’s hot hook.
Corey Gunz has yet to make a good SONG even tho he’s got bars for days. I mean he can go in but what hot songs does he have under his belt that are actually his?
Currency is ok.
Ace shouldn’t have made the list. The only time i hear about his work is in referrence to this cover. Seems like he only made it this big because he was khaled’s new dude and khaled knows everybody. He’s on TV more than most of the other dudes for now but thats for now. Besides its TV… the number 1 video on 106 is swag surf.
As for next year idk what they’re gonna do. I think if they’re gonna have 10 then they should just make it one big group pic or collage with Drake taking up the most space cus there’s no other newbie besides a few of the ones mentioned in 09 buzzin anywhere near as much as him. Here’s a few that I think should be on it though besides him….
The Cool Kids- They should have made last year’s but i guess XXL didnt wanna look like they were pushin out just a bunch of “hipsters” even though they deserved it
Theophilus London
J. Cole
Big Sean
Nickelus F
Nikki Minaj- Think about it.. shes the most marketable chick in a while and she actually has bars so y not?
Im horribly sadened, and slightly less happy for Drake’s “overnight success” I AM FROM CANADA, I’ve been listening to Drake since Room For Improvement and i must say how much better off he would’ve been if he had never met Lil Wayne in his life. He used to love Phonte, not every mother effin “girl in the world”. Anyways its cool he’s so well known now but he can stop with all the Wayne-ness in his songs now.
On another note, im hoping Big Sean, and Wale have alot more in store for their listeners. Kid Cudi is interesting. I’d also like to hear more from 88 Keys. Asher Roth “sounds” like he can produce a lot more intelligent rap than AITBA. Still need to listen to more from the rest of the list.
Vlad-
I think if Drake blows up like we all expect him to, Nicki Minaj will be the ONLY one on that 2010 cover. It’ll be like the over hyping of Lloyd Banks. Wayne’s big, Drake’s big. Next in line is Nicki Minaj….the labels will shove her down our throats
Seriously, fuck drake.
So lame. Degrassi lame, and not original degrassi. Degrassi the legend continues or whatever.
oh and also his rap&bullshit sucks.
Asleep in the bread aisle is so listenable.
Blu & exile 2?
mmmmm
I got Cudi at the top of the class…
I wish I had you as a proffesor in some of my college courses…
Awfully generous with some of those grades.
^^^^^
“I wish I had you as a professor in some of my college courses…
Awfully generous with some of those grades.”
Quote of the week [thus far]… LMAO!!!!
(No disrespect at all David!)
Wheres BLACK MILK?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BLACK MILK ( PRODUCER+ MC) > THE WHOLE LIST!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HY5r_4xrEA
Hey Vlad you can add Al be back to that list for next year also. He’s Dope.
I saw WALE in concert and he was dope; his flow and freestyle are uncanny and stand out amongst this class as identified by his ability to collaborate with GAGA and sign on ROC, including a future tour with HOVA; Curren$y in concert was WHACK; he did a sick freestyle to boom boom pow but excluded any song from Fear and Loathing in New Orleans.
WALE and B.O.B. probably are the standalone A students in this class graded by flow, writing quality, hits, and quality of content already out. Im still waiting on Mickey and Curren$y to see what they can do by the end of this year; they need more collaborations to create more ‘radio hits’ if they are gonna keep up.
Asher Roth is the real Ice ice baby; this one hit wonder makes me laugh everytime anyone starts comparing him to EM. I understand that he is like the messiah for white, young/adolescent, suburban individuals but he lacks the content, technique, hits, and flow to compete amidst the aforementioned artists.
LAST WORD: stop hating on Cudi ppl… his lyrics are straight unmatched: people who say he can’t flow/rap gotta check out his freestyles and his mixtapes… based on the content of his previous and his transcending capability to flow, produce, write, and sing… Cudi is the whole package and could quite easily be only the level of YE or Andre3000 soon enough.
btw the reason the grading is overtly harsh against Cudi is because his song ‘Day and Night’ peaked at #4 on billboard for several weeks; better than anyone on the list
Kid Cudi is dope and he already had a hit record on the radio. People can say what they want but that is more than most of the people on this list. And ” Day n Nite” is not particulary a mainstream song which makes it more impressive that radio actually played that song ALL the time. Wale gives great live shows because he has the band UCB backing him and if his album doesn’t sell him and UCB can tour for years and years like the Roots. Drake reminds me of a Lauryn Hill type but possibly even worse because at least Lauryn’s Hill album not mixtape was really good and she had been with the Fugees prior to her solo career. Unfortunately when people are hyped too much it is hard for them to live up to the expectations people have of them and it tends to hurt their careers. I honestly don’t know if he can remake his “So Far Gone” mixtape. Yes he’s talented but it was just one of those things that turned out great. Now lucky for him there are a lot of Drake stans who think every line he spits is hot so even if his album isn’t as good as his mixtape I have a strong feeling his stans will buy it anyways. And B.O.B. has a commercial appeal ( he kinda reminds me of Andre3000 which is not a bad thing) and he is actually talented so as long as he has the right songs he should definitely make it.
My .$02 cents:
Seem Wale in cnocert and is the only artist on the list i would support. That being said, I still think Drake is on to something with his rhymes.
im gonna roll with none of them.
I’m hoping that Blaq Poet gets some love from you guys (pause)
curren$y is my favorite in the class the album he did with Amalgam Digital is crazy….
cudi’s doing his thing too
and i am excited to hear more from BOB
Great write up!
I’m looking out for
Wale (DMV Stand Up!)
Drake
Kid Cudi
Corey Gunz
Mickey Halsted, IMO, is more talented that any of these clowns.
big sean and drake should have been on that xxl
most guys on the list show promise if they haven’t delivered already.
CH effs up a lot, but ppl forget quickly.
ace hood, c gunz are easily the worst
Los
QuESt
Mikkey Halsted
Big Sean
Diz Gibran
Dom Kennedy
J. Cole
Heartbeat the Producer
Nickelus F
XV
Curren$y all day … he dropped his own album independantly .. .and if you didn’t know that … dude you aint fuckin with real hip hop
Yo i think Wiz Khalifa
Should Be on this list
He is the future of Hip Hop
All his mixtapes is Dope